the die is cast
Point of no return
The die is cast declares that a decision has been made and cannot be undone.
The phrase comes from gambling—once you've thrown the die, the outcome is determined.
Julius Caesar reportedly said it when crossing the Rubicon, committing to civil war.
When she submitted her resignation, the die was cast.
- RubiconBoundary once passed, irrevocable
- cross the RubiconCommit to irreversible action
- Julius CaesarRoman dictator and general
- fatePredetermined course of events
- destinyPredetermined course of events
decision · final decision · irreversible · Caesar · crossing · gamble · all in · committed · point of no return · no turning back · decisive · moment · risk · bold · bold move · fortune · chance · roll the dice
- Famous Sayingsbetter late than never, ignorance is bliss, haste makes waste, carpe diem, seize the day
- fatedestiny, fate, kismet, Moira, fated
- Caesar quotesveni vidi vici, et tu Brute
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
- Latin phrasesE pluribus unum, carpe diem, caveat emptor, veni vidi vici, ad astra
the die is castundecided
Not having chosen
keeping one's options open · on the fence · hedging one's bets · uncommitted · subject to change
the die is castweighing options
Considering alternatives carefully
back to the drawing board · early days · carte blanche · in the balance · hanging in the balance
the die is castin the balance
Awaiting resolution, precarious
up in the air · pending · sleeping on it · back to the drawing board
cast, casting, caster, casts, recast, outcast, broadcast, miscast, typecast